Setback for Flintshire cricket club move

Reporter:

Lois Hough

Friday 9 September 2011 9:02

AMBITIOUS plans to relocate a cricket club have been left hanging in the balance.

An application by Hawarden Estate to move Hawarden Park Cricket Club from its current home near Hawarden Castle to a new site on Moor Lane, was deferred at a Flintshire Council planning committee meeting.

Club bosses say they have outgrown their current base and are unable to expand because of their proximity to the castle, which is a grade one listed building.

They want to create a new two-storey pavilion and pitch at Moor Farm. Club representative Peter Miller told the meeting: “Hawarden Park Cricket Club has been going for many years.

“What they are trying to do is increase the level of children playing cricket because many of the schools in the local area do not play cricket.”

But Cllr Patrick Heesom had fears about building in the countryside.

He said: “I do wish the cricket club well but Hawarden Estate should open up the land.

“The cricket club should go back to Hawarden Estate and ask them to make the land available.”

But pledging his support for the scheme, Cllr David Wisinger said: “This is a well established cricket club.

“We’re supposed to be supporting sports and leisure services.”

The report to the planning committee explained that club was not entitled to England and Wales Cricket Board funding because it occupies the current ground as a licensee without any security of tenure.

It added the estate could grant a lease of the ground to the club for legal reasons.

The plans, which were recommended for approval by planning officers, included a glass and timber framed pavilion and a 40-space car park.

One objector said Moor Lane was narrow and could not withstand extra traffic.